JP2011100197A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such the problem that since anyone can use a HotFolder, even when any desired output result is not obtained due to a little bit time difference between the storage time of a document and the update time of a print rule, a print is output. <P>SOLUTION: In a routine task using the HotFolder (a print rule is preliminarily registered, and when document data are input, the document data are printed according to preliminarily registered attributes), when the other person breaks into a time between the print attribute change time of the HotFolder and a document storage time to the HotFolder which can be generated by sharing the HotFolder, it is guessed and warned that any undesired print result can be output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a multi-function copier (hereinafter referred to as an MFP) that has multifunctional functions such as printing, copying, faxing, and scanning and can be connected to a network.

  Conventionally, the box function used in an image processing apparatus is a function for storing data as if filing, and it can be used to print with the necessary settings when the user needs it. It has been developed in various ways, such as combining the data stored in the box and adding a password to the box to increase confidentiality.

  Further, HotFolder is used as a method for easily printing electronic data with a predetermined print setting. More specifically, if an output rule (printing rule) is set in the HotFolder and document data is submitted to each HotFolder, the preset output rule is checked and automatically registered as a print job. For this reason, it is not necessary to perform troublesome print settings every time, and printing can be easily performed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-187379 JP 2000-118095

  However, the above-described conventional technology does not perform user management for the HotFolder, and anyone can use the HotFolder. Therefore, the time difference between the storage of the document and the update time of the printing rule is just one time. However, there is a problem that the desired output result is not obtained but is output.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. By storing the user history of accessing the Hot Folder as a shared folder and the execution history of the job stored and executed in the Hot Folder, data is stored in the Hot Folder. Is stored in the history information, and control means for warning in advance that there is a possibility that an expected result may not be obtained for a job to be executed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily confirm whether the output result of a job using HotFolder is a desired result before executing the job.

  In addition, when an image is accidentally stored in a hot folder that is another shared folder, there is another effect that an erroneous output can be prevented.

1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multi-function peripheral device (MFP) as an example of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a controller 101. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of document management 206. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which registers a document in a box. It is a figure which shows the screen flow for preserve | saving a scan image in a box. It is a figure which shows the screen flow of the conventional printing operation which does not use HotFolder. It is a figure which shows the screen flow of the conventional printing operation which does not use HotFolder. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the conventional printing operation which does not use HotFolder. It is a screen flow figure showing attribute assignment and attribute update to HotFolder setting. It is a figure which shows the flow of the conventional output process performed by throwing data into the box in which the HotFolder setting 306 was set. In the shared HotFolder, it is a diagram showing, on the time axis, a difference between a case where it is normally used and a case where an interrupt for attribute setting occurs. It is a figure which shows the detail of the HotFolder log 307. FIG. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of this invention which improved the prior art example of FIG. 10, and shows the flow of the output process improved by this invention performed by throwing data with respect to the box in which the HotFolder setting 306 was set. FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multi-function peripheral (MFP) as an example of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The multifunction peripheral device includes a controller 101, a user interface 102, a scanner engine 103, a printer engine 104, a FAX engine 105, an automatic document feeder 106, a finisher 107, a network interface device 108, a removable media control device 109, and an external storage device 110. Therefore, the main part is composed.

  The controller 101 controls the controller 101, user interface 102, scanner engine 103, printer engine 104, FAX engine 105, automatic document feeder 106, finisher 107, network interface device 108, removable media control device 109, and external storage device 110. .

  The user interface 102 includes a display made of CRT or liquid crystal, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like. The touch panel is provided on the display.

  The scanner engine 103 is a portion that is optically read by an image sensor such as a CCD, and the automatic document feeder 106 can read a plurality of documents while automatically feeding paper.

  The printer engine 104 is a laser beam printer, for example, and records an image read by the scanner engine 103 on a recording medium such as paper. Further, the finisher 107 is configured to be able to perform stapling processing and bookbinding processing together on the originals output from the printer engine.

  The FAX 105 is a part that performs G3 fax communication based on, for example, the recommendation of ITU (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector), and can transmit images read by the scanner engine 103 via the public line 112.

  The network 108 is connected to the Internet 111 via an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable and accepts a print job (PDL job) transmitted from another MFP or information processing apparatus (PC) on the LAN / WAN, or a scanner. An image read by the engine 103 can be transmitted.

  The removable media control device 109 is, for example, a USB interface, and is a part that controls reading and writing of image data to and from a removable portable media, and prints images stored in the portable media to the printer engine 104. An instruction or an image read by the scanner engine 103 can be stored.

  The external storage device 110 is, for example, a hard disk, and stores various control programs and control information controlled by the controller 101, an image for instructing printing to the printer engine 104, an image read by the scanner engine 103, and the like. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the controller 101. The CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, clock (RTC) 204, storage device (HDD) 205, scanner control unit 208, printer control unit 209, FAX control unit 210, network A control unit 211, a removable media control unit 212, and an operation unit 213 are connected to the system bus 216.

  A CPU 201 is a central processing unit, and is a part that controls various kinds of programs stored in a ROM 202, a RAM 203, and a storage device (HDD) 205.

  The ROM 202 is a read-only memory, and is a part that stores various programs and control data controlled by the CPU 201.

  A RAM 203 is a random access memory, which is a main memory controlled by the CPU 201, and stores data and programs necessary for various controls.

  A clock (RTC) 204 is a real-time clock, and is a part that performs time management of the entire system.

  A storage device (HDD) 205 is a part that controls the external storage device 110, and has a document management 206 that manages a plurality of boxes 207.

  The scanner control unit 208 is a part that controls the scanner engine 103.

  The printer control unit 209 is a part that controls the printer engine 104.

  The FAX control unit 210 is a part that controls the FAX engine 105.

  The network control unit 211 is a part that controls the network interface device 108.

  The removable media control unit 212 is a part that controls the removable media control device 109.

  The operation unit 213 is a part that controls the user interface 102 and includes a display unit 214 and an input unit 215.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the details of the document management 206 placed in the external storage device 205 in order to realize the box function.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of boxes 304 are registered in the document management 301.

  The box 302 includes hot folder information 305, hot folder settings 306, a hot folder log 307, and a document 308.

  The HotFolder information 305 holds rules for using HotFold such as the last updater and update date of the HotFolder setting 306 and whether to check the attribute for each job.

  The HotFolder setting 306 stores attributes that are valid for a job executed by storing a document in the HotFolder. For example, the number of copies, color / monochrome when printing, one-sided / double-sided printing, various composite systems Information relating to printing, such as settings (stamp printing, date printing, part number printing, and background pattern printing) are stored.

  The HotFolder log 307 stores information shown in FIG. As an example of information to be stored, information such as the attribute update history of the HotFolder and the job attribute at the time of the execution result of the job executed after the HotFolder is stored is stored.

Each box can be assigned to each user, group or company department, and access can be restricted by a password. Also,
The document 303 includes document information 309 and a page image 310.
The document information 309 stores management information such as the date and creator of the document registered / created on the HotFolder.

  The page image 308 stores actual image images, and one document is configured to hold images of one page to a plurality of pages.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of processing for registering a document in a box. Steps 401 to 406 correspond to a procedure for registering a PDL image from the host computer, and steps 407 to 410 register an image by a scan job performed via the scanner engine 103. In addition, 411 to 415 indicate a procedure for registering an image by a copy job via the scanner engine 103.

  First, a procedure for registering PDL images from the host computers 401 to 406 will be described.

  401 designates by a number where an image input from the host computer is stored in a box managed by the document management 301 of the MFP of the present invention. Here, when the number 0 is instructed, it indicates an instruction to store in the box 00.

  Next, reference numeral 402 denotes various print setting steps performed on a host computer connected via the Internet 111. The setting operation performed in this step is well known because it is performed by a Windows (registered trademark) printer driver on a personal computer, and is omitted. Instruct the setting.

  Next, in 403, print data is transferred from the host computer to the MFP of the present invention via the Internet 111 and the network interface. A Windows (registered trademark) printer driver installed in the host computer converts the code data to be printed into a so-called Page Description Language (hereinafter referred to as PDL), and transmits it together with the print setting data set in 402. To do.

  Next, in 404, the PDL data is developed (rasterized) into a print image.

  Next, in 405, the document 303 is created. Information held at this time is a page 310 including document information 309 and an image.

  Next, a scan image registration procedure performed on the MFP of the present invention will be described with reference to 406 and 409.

First, at 406, a box number for saving an image is set from the operation unit 213.
Next, in 407, scan function settings necessary for image processing are performed via the operation unit 213 of the user interface 102.

  Next, at 408, the scanner engine 103 is instructed to start scanning.

  Next, in 409, the image image read by the scanner engine 103 is stored in the page 310. After all the paper and the like placed on the automatic paper feeder 106 are read, the document information 309 is written.

  Next, a copy image registration procedure performed on the MFPs 410 to 413 of the present invention will be described.

  First, in 410, a box number for saving an image is set from the operation unit 213.

  Next, in 411, a copy function setting necessary for image processing is performed via the operation unit 213 of the user interface 102.

  Next, in 412, the scanner engine 103 and the printer engine 104 are instructed to start copying.

  Next, at 413, a document 303 is created. Specifically, the image information read by the scanner engine 103 is stored in the page 310, and after all the paper and the like placed on the automatic paper feeder 106 are read, the document information including the document creation date and the creator name is stored. Write to 309.

  FIG. 5 corresponds to the processing flow from 406 to 409 in FIG. 4 and is a diagram showing a screen flow for storing a scanned image in a box.

  First, on the screen 501, a box number to be used is selected from the box 304. Note that this screen controls the BOX designation process 406 in FIG.

  Next, on the screen 502, an operation to be performed is selected. In this case, the “original reading” button at the bottom center of the screen is pressed to instruct to store the scanned image.

  Next, on the screen 503, various scan settings necessary for scanning the document are performed. This screen is responsible for the scan setting process 407 in FIG.

  Here, when the scan setting is completed, a “reading start” button at the bottom of the screen 503 is pressed to instruct the scanner engine 103 to start scanning. Note that the processing corresponding to this operation includes scanning 408 and image storage 409 in FIG.

  FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are diagrams illustrating a conventional print operation screen and a processing flow that do not use HotFolder.

  First, on the screen 601, a box in which a document to be printed is stored is designated. The process corresponding to this screen is 801 in FIG. 8 and controls the BOX designation process.

  Next, after selecting a document to be printed on the screen 602, a “print” button is pressed to instruct printing. Note that the processing corresponding to this screen is 802 in FIG. 8 and controls the document designation processing.

  Next, on the screen 701, processing to be performed on the paper to be printed and the finisher 107 is set. Note that details of processing performed at the time of printing are performed on the screens 702 and 703. In the present embodiment, detailed setting of “background pattern printing” is instructed on the screen 702, and the detailed setting is performed on the screen 703 to be displayed next. The process corresponding to the print setting operation on the screens 701, 702, and 703 is the print attribute setting process 803 in FIG.

  Pressing the “print start” button at the bottom of the screen 701 instructs the printer engine 104 to print. The process of instructing the printer engine 104 to perform printing is governed by the print process 804 in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a screen flow diagram showing attribute assignment and attribute update for the HotFolder setting 306 of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 901 denotes a screen for performing various operation settings for the MFP of the present invention. Here, in order to set an attribute in the HotFolder, the cursor is placed on “set box specification” and then the execution button is pressed.

  Next, on the screen 902, a box in which the HotFolder setting 306 is to be created / updated is designated.

  Next, on the 903 screen, after placing the “Hot folder attribute setting” cursor which means creation / update of the HotFolder setting 306, the execution button is pressed.

  Next, on the screen 904, details of the HotFolder setting 306 are set by operating each button. When the “execute button” is pressed on this screen, the HotFolder setting 306 is updated, then the HotFolder information 305 and the HotFolder log 307 are updated, and this screen is terminated. It should be noted that the user stored in the HotFolder information 305 is omitted because it performs an authentication process in advance before entering this screen operation. As the authentication method, a user ID / password method or another authentication method may be used.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a conventional output process executed by throwing data into a box in which the HotFolder setting 306 is set.

  First, in A01, it is confirmed whether data is stored in the box 302 or not. If it is detected that data is stored in the box 302, the stored box number and document name are acquired, and the process proceeds to A02. On the other hand, if the data has not been stored, the clock (RTC) 204 is used to return to A01 after a certain interval and check again.

  Next, in A02, it is confirmed whether or not an output rule is set from the HotFolder information 305 and the HotFolder setting 306 in the box 302 having the box number acquired in A01. If the output rule is set, the process proceeds to A03. On the other hand, when the output rule is not set, this process is terminated and then waiting for the process to be restarted.

  Next, in A03, the HotFolder setting 306 is taken out from the box 302.

  Next, in A04, a print job is input from the HotFolder setting 306 extracted in the above process and the document 303 specified from the document name acquired in A01.

  Next, in A05, a print instruction is given to the printer engine 104, the process is terminated, and the process waits for the process to be restarted.

  FIG. 11 shows the time difference between the storage time of the document data and the HotFolder setting time which is an output rule on the time axis, showing the difference between the case where it is normally used in the shared type HotFolder and the case where the attribute setting interruption occurs. FIG.

  In FIG. 11, “(a) diagram showing how the shared folder is normally used”, B01, A, B, and C set a common HotFolder setting 306.

  First, Mr. A submits a scan job at 13:00 (document storage is completed at the end of the job), and Mr. C submits a scan job at 13:04. Next, at 13:07, Mr. B indicates that the document has been moved from another box to the HotFolder shared by three people, and that each print job has started printing with the contents set in B01. . In this case, in particular, B03 and B05 are input with the job order reversed in a certain sense, but there is no particular problem because the output results are shared with each other.

  Next, in “(b) Diagram showing shared folder where interrupt has occurred”, first, in B06, the output result obtained by Mr. D is set in the HotFolder setting 306. After that, it indicates that three scan jobs have been continuously input. In B07, it is shown that Mr. E updated the HotFolder setting 306 and then copied the document from another box to this box.

  By updating the HotFolder setting 306 in B07, the print jobs of B13 and B12 are affected. Here, B13 is output with a desired result, but B12 is output with a different result, and the output result itself is wasted.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing details of the HotFolder log 307, and shows the event that occurred in FIG. 11 as an example.

  First, the HotFolder log 307 includes a box number C01, a user name C02, a HotFolder attribute setting time C03, a print job input time C04, a HotFolder setting history, a job execution result, and a history C05.

  A box number C01 indicates the number of a box 304 (= box 302) managed by the document management 301.

  The user name C02 is information obtained by authenticating with the user ID / password method whether or not the device can be operated during this operation.

  The HotFolder attribute setting time C03 indicates the time when the HotFolder setting 306 is updated.

  The print job submission time C04 indicates the submission time of a job printed using the HotFolder setting 306.

  It is assumed that both the HotFolder attribute setting time C03 and the print job input time C04 are not valid (only one of the values is valid (a value is set when valid)).

  The HotFolder setting history and job execution result and history C05 record the execution result of a print job executed using the contents set in the HotFolder setting 306 or the contents set in the HotFolder setting 306. Whether one of these is stored is determined based on the HotFolder attribute setting time C03 and the print job input time C04.

  Specifically, it is shown that the user box 20 is shared with Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C ("(a) diagram showing how the shared folder is normally used in FIG. 11". ”) Indicates that an interrupt has occurred in the user box 11 (corresponding to“ (b) a diagram showing a shared folder in which an interrupt has occurred ”). In this example, Mr. D's job is submitted at 15:02 in the bottom record, but since the HotFolder setting 306 has been updated by Mr. E, the job has been canceled (job canceled). Is shown.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the present invention improved from the conventional example of FIG. 10. The output processing improved by the present invention is executed by throwing data into a box in which the HotFolder setting 306 is set. It is a figure which shows the flow of.

  First, in D01, the content of “necessity of attribute confirmation” held in the HotFolder information 305 is confirmed. If it is determined that the attribute needs to be confirmed, the process proceeds to D02. On the other hand, if it is determined that the attribute confirmation is unnecessary, the process proceeds to D11, a print job is input using the HotFolder setting 306, and the process ends.

  Next, in D02, the attribute setter in the HotFolder information 305 and the creator in the document information 309 are compared to confirm whether or not they are the same user. If it is determined that the user is the same user, the process proceeds to D03, a print job is input using the HotFolder setting 306, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in D02 that the user is different, the process proceeds to D04.

  In D04, it is checked whether or not the combination of the creator's job in the document information 309 and the box number that is about to be output remains in the HotFolder log 307 (corresponding to FIG. 12).

  If it is determined in D04 that a valid log remains in the HotFolder log 307 (corresponding to FIG. 12), the setting contents of the previous job are acquired from C05 in the HotFolder log 307.

  Next, in D05, it is confirmed whether or not the previously executed job setting (corresponding to C05 in FIG. 12) acquired in D04 and the HotFolder setting 306 are the same. If it is determined that the attributes are the same, the process proceeds to D10, a print job is input using the HotFolder setting 306, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the job setting at the previous execution is different from the contents of the HotFolder setting 306, the process proceeds to D06, and a list of different attributes is notified to the creator in the document information 309 (in this embodiment, details are described). Although not shown, it is assumed to be displayed as an alert message on the display unit 214).

  Next, in D07, the user operation for D06 is confirmed. If a print execution instruction is issued, the process proceeds to D08, and after a print job is input using the HotFolder setting 306, this process ends.

  On the other hand, if an issuance rejection is instructed in D07, the job is canceled and the document 303 is also deleted, and then this process is terminated.

  If no valid log remains in the HotFolder log 307 (corresponding to FIG. 12) in D04, the process proceeds to D11 to notify the creator in the document information 309 that the output result cannot be guaranteed. (In this embodiment, although not shown in detail, it is displayed as an alert message on the display unit 214).

  Next, in D12, the user operation for D11 is confirmed. If a print execution instruction is issued, the process proceeds to D13, and after a print job is input using the HotFolder setting 306, this process ends.

  On the other hand, if an issue rejection is instructed in D14, the job is canceled and the document 303 is also deleted, and then this process is terminated.

Claims (4)

In an image processing apparatus which has a plurality of boxes and can store document data consisting of image information in the box, and can extract the stored data from the box.
A function processing association means for associating an arbitrary function or processing with the box;
Function execution means for combining the functions and processing associated with each other by throwing data into the box;
If there is an association update for the function processing associating means, log means for recording the contents and the execution contents of the job executed by the function executing means as a history;
And a determination unit that determines and warns that there is a possibility that an expected output result may not be obtained from the contents of the history managed and recorded by the log unit when data is thrown into the box. An image processing apparatus. In the determination means, a first warning means for warning by comparing a user who has thrown data into the box with a user using the function processing association means, and a different user immediately before execution by the execution means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second warning unit that issues a warning by determining whether or not the job has been executed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a user information continuation unit that takes over user information in which data is thrown into the box to a job executed by the function execution unit.   A control method comprising the image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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